A Career as a Professional Dancer

A Career as a Professional DancerA Career as a Professional DancerA dancer is aperforming artistwho uses movement to convey stories and ideas. He or she usually has expertise in a particular type of dance including jazz, ballet, modern dance, ballroom or tap, but some excel in mora than one of these areas. Dancers perform on stage, in movies, on television, in music videos, at theme parks, and on cruise ships. Quick Facts About Dancers They earned amedian wageof $14.31 per hour in 2014.16,000 people worked as dancers in 2012.Dance companies employed about 30% of them.Employment is expected togrow as fast as the averagefor all occupations through 2024. How to Get Your Start If youve never taken a dance lesson, you may have come upon this article a little late. Many, but bedrngnis all, professional dancers began theirtraining when they were children.Regardless of when you began training, you must spend a great deal of time taking classes and practicing.You can look into summer or after school dance programs or pre-professional programs with dance companies.A college degree isnt a must- only 14% of dancers have a bachelors degree- but some people earn bachelors degrees from theater or fine arts programs. Since many dancers also sing and act, honing these skills can prove to be worthwhile. What Soft Skills Do You Need to Succeed in This Career? Active Listening You must be able to give your full attention to choreographers and directors.Active Learning You need the ability to easily pick up new dance routines.Creativity Artistic ability will allow you to convey ideas through your movements.Interpersonal Skills As a dancer, you will often have to work as part of a kollektiv including other dancers, choreographers, and other performers. You must be able to interact with them successfully. The Downside of Being a Dancer Be prepared to spend a lot of time on the road if you are part of a dance company.Brace yourself for rejections.Get ready to work for many hours if you go on tour with a dance company. You will spend your days rehearsing and your nights performing.Have a backup plan. Due to career-ending injuries, dancers often have to stop performing while still in their thirties. Many become choreographers or dance instructors. Common Misconceptions You will get to have fun all the time Dancers work very hard, and while they may enjoy what they do, this is a job, and its about much more than having fun.You will be discovered It is unlikely that a famous producer will see you dancing in your studio (or on Youtube) and say I want this young woman or man to be in my show. To get hired, you will have to go on a lot of auditions.You will make a lot of money The median wage for this career is relatively low.You will become famous Most dancers do not achieve fame. Many work in theme parks and on cruise ships. All you need is talent While its true that dancers need talent to succeed, they also spend a great deal of time learning com plicated routines and rehearsing.You will do nothing but dance Dancers who work in theme parks or on cruise ships sometimes do additional jobs off stage. You should not be surprised if you have to interact with guests, serve drinks or wait on tables. What Will Employers Expect From You? The following requirements come from actual job announcements Able to perform multiple high-energy shows each dayPractice regularly and prepare for auditions and weekly rehearsalsWorks as part of a team to increase productivity while providing excellent guest serviceHas to generate excitement and youthful energyCan pick up choreography quickly Is This Occupation a Good Fit for You? Holland Code ARS (Artistic, Realistic, Social)MBTI PersonalityTypes INTP, ESTP, ESFP, ISFP Related Occupations TitleDescriptionMedian Hourly Wage (2014)Required Education/TrainingActorPortrays characters on stage, in movies, in commercials, and on television shows$19.82Formal training from acting classes or com pletion of a dramatic arts program at a collegeChoreographerCreates or interprets dances$21.28Experience as a dancer with subsequent training in choreographySingerInterprets music and words using his or her voice$24.16No educational requirements for pop music singers but opera singers usually earn a bachelors degreeMusicianPlays an instrument for a live audience or in a studio$24.16Pop musicians arent typically required to get a college degree, but classical musicians often earn one. SourcesBureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor,Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 (visited October 7, 2015).Employment and Training Administration, US Department of Labor,O*NET Online(visited October 7, 2015).